Feed-water preheating means



Oct. 17, 1933. H Q WELLS FEED WATER PR EHEATING MEANS Filed Feb. 20, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnvenior flllorney Oct. 17, 1933. c WELLS 1,930,692

FEED WATER PREHEATING MEANS Filed Feb. 20, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATEN'Il OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved structural assembly or unit which may be broadly referred to as an improved means for preheating the feed-water supplied to a boiler whether it be of the stationary type, or of the embodiment utilized in alocomotive construction.

The broad principle of heating the feed-water to a boiler before it is delivered into the water space is not new. Notwithstanding my knowledge of this fact, I have evolved and producedan improved selection and mechanical coordination of parts forming a structurally refined and improved unit which, to my mind, accomplishes the desired results in a more dependable and satisfactory manner.

It follows therefore, that my primary aim is to generally improve upon prior art feed-water heaters through the perfection of a more eflicient, simple and economical structural assembly calculated to fulfill the needs of a device of this classification in a more practical and reliable manner.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in section and elevation showing a locomotive boiler with the improved feed water preheater installed therein in accordance with my idea.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exaggerated fragmentary sectional and elevational view detailing highly important features of the invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on the plane of the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

The general assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1, 'in which it will be observed that the device is installed in a locomotive boiler. Manifestly however, the same arrangement is adaptable with slight changes for incorporation in a domestic or stationary boiler.

As shown in Figure l, the horizontally elongated boiler is generally denoted by the numeral 5 and is of customary construction and provided at its rear end with an appropriate fire box 6. Suspended between the flue plate 7 and longitudinally spaced frontal or header plate 8 are the customary open-ended flues 9. The steam space is differentiated by the numeral 10 and the water jacket distinguished by the numeral 11. The approximate water level is shown at 10.

In accordance with my ideas, I provide a subplemental enlarged flue or tube 12 also suspended. between the plates '7 and 8 and located in the upper portion of the boiler. This tube is provided with a branch 13 and adjacent the point of 0 communication between the branch and main tube and depending into the main tube is a deflector or baffle 14 which functions as a spark arrester and feed-water pipe protecting element.

The feed-water pipe is distinguished by the 65 numeral 15 and is principally of horizontally or elongated form. The left-hand end portion 16 disposed exteriorly of the firebox may be referred to as the intake and is secured by a coupling 17 of appropriate type to' the water supply pipe 18. 70

The coupling is provided with a check-valve 19 and a return or circulating pipe 20 which is shown depending into the water-jacket 11.

The numeral 21 merely designates an injector pipe which is also connected to the feed-water pipe. The enclosed portion of the feed-water pipe includes a horizontal portion 22 extending through the upper portion of the water space just above the crown sheet 23. The intermediate right-angularly bent portion 24 of the feed-water pipe extends through and then down in the protective branch tube 13 Where it enters the body of the supplemental tube 12. The feed-water pipe is then directed horizontally as indicated at 25 and extended toward the discharge end of 85 the tube 12 where it is provided with an upstand ing discharge nozzle 26 emptying into the frontal portion of the water space.

The discharge nozzle is equipped with a small dome-like hood 2'7 which functions to direct the water downwardly from the nozzle.

Needless to say, the means for suppl ing the water from the tank, injector, or other source, is virtually immaterial to the novelty of this invention since this will vary depending on whether the invention is incorporated in a domestic type of stationary boiler for home use, or a portable boiler such as is used on a locomotive.

The gist of the invention is found in the provision of a suitably shaped and properly proportioned feed-water pipe having appropriate supply means at one end with the intake end portion thereof disposed in the water space, preferably within the vicinity of the firebox, and the remaining portion thereof housed or encased in a special or supplemental flue tube.

In the arrangement depicted in the drawings the tube has a branch pipe 13 and the adjacent portion of the feed-water pipe is bent to extend through this branch tube and then into the main tube so that it may be carried to the frontal portion of the boiler, that is, at a point remote from the intake end of the feed-water pipe. The adoption of this branch-equipped tube 12 provided with a protective bailie 14 to guard against unnecessary damage to the adjacent portion of the feed-water pipe 24 is a satisfactory and practical arrangement indeed. Manifestly it serves to subject the incoming water to the requisite degree of heat so that it is heated sufiiciently before it is discharged through the nozzle 26 into the water space 10. Then too, the arrangement wherein the nozzle is provided with the hood 27 to insure proper performance is adequate for the purpose. Finally, the circulatory connection of the feed-water pipe with the water jacket 11 through the instrumentality oi" the socalled circulating pipe 20 is an added feature of construction.

- A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the illustrative drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the purpose, features and advantages, the explicit construction, and the invention as hereinafter claimed.

It is to be understood that minor changes in shape, size, relative proportions, and materials may be resorted to in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as nowclaimed.

I claim:

I 1. In a structure of the class described, in cornbination, a boiler including a firebox and a plurality of properly associated fiues, a supplemental flue tube connected at one end with the firebox, a feed-water pipe having a discharge nozzle at one end discharging into the water space of i the boiler at a point remote from the firebox,

a portion of said pipe extending through said tube and another portion of the pipe extending through the firebox end of the boiler and through a portion of the water space, close to the firebox.

2. In a structure of the class described, in

combination, a boiler including a firebox and a plurality of properly associated fiues, a supplemental flue tube connected at one end with the firebox, a feed-water pipe having a discharge nozzle at one end discharging into the water space of the boiler at a point remote from the firebox, a portion of said pipe extending through said tube and another portion of the tube passing through a portion of the water space and through the firebox end of the boiler, said portion being located close to the firebox, a baifle plate located in said tube at a point to deflect the sparks and minimize damage to the feedwater pipe, and a dome-like hood supported on the nozzle and located in the aforesaid water space.

3. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a locomotive boiler having a conventional firebox at its rear end, longitudinally spaced flue plates associated with the firebox and boiler, a plurality of horizontal fiues supported in spaced parallelism by said plates, an additional flue-tube supported between the plates and above the upper-most one of the aforesaid fiues, said tube being provided intermediate its ends with an aperture, a branch tube in the .boiler connected with the apertured portion of the tube, a deflector plate in said flue tube at a pointadjacent the branch tube, a feed-water pipe entering the rear end portion of the boiler andextending above the crown plate of the firebox throughthe water space and into said branch tube, the intermediate portion of said pipe being bent laterally downward through the aperture in the main tube, the remainder of the pipe extending through said tube and terminating in an upstanding nozzle discharging into the frontal portion of the water space, and a dome-like hood attached to the nozzle and located in said water space. 1

4. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a locomotive boiler having a conventional firebox at its rear end, longitudinally spaced flue plates associated with the firebox and boiler, a plurality of horizontal fiues supported in spaced parallelism by said plates, an additional flue-tube supported between the plates and above the uppermost one of the aforesaid fiues, said tube being provided intermediate its ends with an aperture, a branch tube in the boiler connected with the apertured portion of the tube, a deflector plate in said main tube at a point adjacent the branch tube, a feedwater pipe entering the rear end portion of the boiler and extending above the crown plate of the firebox through the water space and into said branch tube, the intermediate portion of said pipe being bent laterally downward through the aperture in the main tube, the remainder of the pipe extending through said tube and terminating in an upstanding nozzle discharging into the frontal portion of the water-space, and a dome-like hood attached to the nozzle and located in said water space, a valved circulating pipe connected with said feed-water pipe and in communication with the water jacket around the firebox, together with means for supplying water to said feed-water pipe. p

' HENRY C. WELLS. 

